• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2004

Background: Infective endocarditis shows higher operative morbidity and mortality rates than other cardiac diseases. The vast majority of studies on infective endocarditis have been made on aortic endocarditis, with little attention having been paid to infective endocarditis on the mitral valve. This study attempts to investigate the clinical aspects and operative results of infective endocarditis on the mitral valve. Meterial and Method: The subjects of this study consist of 23 patients who underwent operations for infective endocariditis on the mitral valve from June 1995 to May 2003. Among them, 2 patients suffered from prosthetic valvular endocarditis and the other 21 from native valvular endocarditis. The subjects were evenly distributed age-wise with an average age of 44.8$\pm$15.7 (11∼66) years. Emergency operations were performed on seventeen patients (73.9%) due to large vegetation or instable hemodynamic status. In preoperative examinations, twelve patients exhibited congestive heart failure, four patients renal failure, two patients spleen and renal infarction, and two patients temporary neurological defects, while one patient had a brain abscess. Based on the NYHA functional classification, seven patients were determined to be at Grade II, 9 patients at Grade III, and 6 patients at Grade IV. Vegetations were detected in 20 patients while mitral regurgitation was dominant in 19 patients with 4 patients showing up as mitral stenosis dominant on the preoperative echocardiogram. Blood cultures for causative organisms were performed on all patients, and positive results were obtained from ten patients, with five cases of Streptococcus viridance, two cases of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, and one case each of Corynebacteriurn, Haemophillis, and Gernella. Operations were decided according to the AA/AHA guidelines (1988). The mean follow-up period was 27.6 $\pm$23.3 (1 ∼ 97) months. Result: Mitral valve replacements were performed on 43 patients, with mechanical valves being used on 9 patients and tissue valves on the other 4. Several kinds of mitral valve repair or mitral valvuloplasty were carried out on the remaining 10 patients. Associated procedures included six aortic valve replacements, two tricuspid annuloplasty, one modified Maze operation, and one direct closure of a ventricular septal defect. Postoperative complications included two cases of bleeding and one case each of mediastinitis, low cardiac output syndrome, and pneumonia. There were no cases of early deaths, or death within 30 days following the operation. No patient died in the hospital or experienced valve related complications. One patient, however, underwent mitral valvuloplasty 3 months after the operation. Another patient died from intra-cranial hemorrhage in the 31st month after the operation. Therefore, the valve-related death rate was 4.3%, and the valve-related complication rate 8.6% on mid-term follow-up. 1, 3-, and 5-year valve- related event free rates were 90.8%, 79.5%, and 79.5%, respectively, while 1, follow-up. 1, 3-, and 5-year valve- related event free rates were 90.8%, 79.5%, and 79.5%, respectively, while 1, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 100%, 88.8%, and 88.8%, respectively. Conclusion: The findings suggest that a complete removal of infected tissues is essential in the operative treatment of infectious endocarditis of the mitral valve. It is also suggested that when infected tissues are completely removed, neither type of material nor method of operation has a significant effect on the operation result. The postoperative results also suggest the need for a close follow-up observation of the patients suspected of having brain damage, which is caused by preoperative blood contamination or emboli from vegetation, for a possible cerebral vascular injury such as mycotic aneurysm.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.104-112
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• 2008

Purpose: To assess the toxicity and tumor response induced by $DCVac/IR^{(R)}$ dendritic cell(DC) immunotherapy combined with irradiation for refractory colorectal cancer patients with multiple liver metastases. Materials and Methods: Between May 2004 and November 2006, applicants from a pool of refractory colorectal cancer patients with multiple liver metastases were enrolled. The patients were registered after having signed the informed consent form, which had been approved by the Institutional Review Board from the Dong-A University and Busan National University Hospital. DCs were obtained from peripheral blood of each patient, and then cultured in vitro. A total of $6{\times}10^6$ DCs were packed into a vial($DCVac/IR^{(R)}$, 0.5 ml) at the convenience of each patient's schedule. On the day before and on the day of each vaccination, each patient received a 4 Gy radiation dose to the target tumor. On the day of vaccination, the indicated dose of autologous DCs was injected into the irradiated tumor using ultrasound-guided needle injection procedures. A total of four vaccinations were scheduled at three 2-week intervals and one 4 week interval at the Dong-A University and Busan National University Hospital. If the tumor status was deemed to be stable or responding to therapy, an additional vaccination dose or two was approved at 4 week intervals beyond the fourth immunization. A tolerance test for DCs was conducted by injecting a range of doses($3{\times}10^6\;to\;12{\times}10^6$ DCs) after the 3rd injection. Moreover, the maximal tolerable dose was applied to additional patients. Treatment safety was evaluated in all patients who had at least one injection. Treatment feasibility was evaluated by the 10th week by assessing the response of patients having at least 4 injections. For systemic toxicities, the evaluation was performed using the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria, whereas adverse effects were recorded using common WHO toxicity criteria. Results: Of the 24 registered patients, 22 received the DCs injections. Moreover, of the 14 patients that applied for the tolerance test, only 11 patients completed it because 3 patients withdrew their testing agreement. A grade 3 or more side effect, which was possibly related to the DC injection, did not occur in additional patients. The $12{\times}10^6$ DC injection was identified as the maximum tolerable dose, and was then injected in an additional 8 patients. Patients tolerated the injection fairly well, with no fatal side effects. In order to assess the feasibility of DC immunotherapy, the response was evaluated in other hepatic lesions outside of the targeted hepatic lesion. The response evaluation was performed in 15 of the 17 patients who received at least 4 injections. Stable and progressive disease was found in 4 and 11 patients, respectively. Conclusion: The DC-based immunotherapy and radiotherapy is theoretically synergistic for the local control and systemic control. The $DCVac/IR^{(R)}$ immunotherapy combined with irradiation was tolerable and safe in the evaluated cases of refractory colorectal cancer with multiple liver metastases. Future work should include well designed a phase II clinical trials.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.155-160
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• 2018

We investigated to know the growth patterns of Aedes albopictus larva at the four different temperature conditions. Each of 120 individuals was placed into a $20m{\ell}$ vial and 12 sets (a set of 10 vials) were separated into 12 water tanks ($17{\times}24{\times}18cm^3$). Each water tank was composed of 3 the $1^{st}$ instar, 3 the $2^{nd}$ instar, 2 the $3^{rd}$ instar, and 2 the $4^{th}$ instar. Three sets of water tanks were placed under the four different incubator temperatures ($17^{\circ}C$, $21^{\circ}C$, $24^{\circ}C$, $28^{\circ}C$). We found that the eclosion rates were $20.00{\pm}5.77%$ at $21^{\circ}C$ and $3.33{\pm}3.33%$ at other temperatures. For the mosquito larva mortality rate, $1^{st}$ instar was $19.24{\pm}3.65%$, $2^{nd}$ instar was $16.48{\pm}3.25%$, $3^{rd}$ instar was $23.54{\pm}5.06%$, and $4^{th}$ instar was $40.74{\pm}7.08%$. The lowest mortality rate in growth stages according to temperature was $13.33{\pm}6.67%$ at $17^{\circ}C$ in $1^{st}$ instar larva, $7.41{\pm}7.41%$ at $21^{\circ}C$ at $2^{nd}$ instar larva, $10.74{\pm}6.43%$ at $24^{\circ}C$ in $3^{rd}$ instar larva, and $20.37{\pm}5.46%$ at $28^{\circ}C$ in $4^{th}$ instar larva. The survival period of mosquitoes in underwater were $26.33{\pm}0.67days$ at $17^{\circ}C$, $23.33{\pm}1.33days$ at $21^{\circ}C$, $20.00{\pm}2.52days$ at $24^{\circ}C$, and $11.67{\pm}1.20days$ at $28^{\circ}C$. From our results the most effective temperature to the normal growth of mosquito larva was $21^{\circ}C$, and the highest mortality rate was shown at the $4^{th}$ instar stage of larva growth. Our results would provide the basic data for the mosquito larva's growth pattern.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.112-120
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• 1998

This study was performed to investigate the synergistic effect of chitosan and sorbic acid as a new food preservative. So it was performed to investigate inhibitory effect on growh of E. coli 0157:H7, gram negative pathogenic food borne disease bacteria and of S. aureus, gram positive food borne disease bacteria in chitosan, sorbic acid and combination of chitosan and sorbic acid. Minimun Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of chitosan in E. coli 0157:H7 was 500 ppm at pH 5.0, 250 ppm at pH 5.5, 500 ppm at pH 6.0, and 2000 ppm at pH 6.5, while in Staph. aureus 31.25 ppm at pH 5.0 and 62. 5 ppm at more than pH 5.5. also, MIC of sorbic acid in E. coli 0157:H7 was 500 ppm at pH 5.0, 1500 ppm at pH 5.5, and 2000 ppm at more than pH 6.0, while in Staph. aureus 1500 ppm at pH 5.0 and more than 2000 ppm at more than pH 5.5. Due to the effect of pH in E. coli 0157:H7, MIC of combined chitosan and sorbic acid was 500 ppm of chitosan with 500 ppm of sorbic acid at pH 6.5, but 250 ppm of chitosan with 31.3 ppm of sorbic acid at pH 5.0. In Staph. aureus, there was great effect of chitosan, but neither effect of pH nor sorbic acid. When E. coli 0157:H7 were treated with 500 ppm of chitosan with 500 ppm of sorbic acid and 250 ppm of chitosan with 250 ppm of sorbic acid at pH 6.5, they were inhibited. But, they were increased at the initial concentration of bacteria at 1000 ppm of chitosan in 18 hours, at 500 ppm of chitosan in 36 hours. There was no effect of growth inhibition with sorbic acid but great effect with chitosan on Staph. aureus. The correl~tions between MICs of chitosan and sorbic acid in E. coli 0157:H7 accoding to pH were higher than those in Staph. aureus. R values in E. coli 0157:H7 were 0.95 (p<0.01), 0.99 (p<0.01), 0.97 (p<0.01), and 0.99 (p<0.01) at pH 6.5, 6.0, 5.5, and 5.0 respectively. The synergistic effect of chitosan and sorbic acid in E. coli 0157:H7 could be confirmed from the result of this experiment. Therefore, it was expected that the food preservation would increase or maintain by using sorble acid together with chitosan, natural food additive that did no harm to human body.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.290-300
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• 2017

In vitro fermentation was conducted to figure out alternative fiber sources for horse feed. For the development of value-added products as a horse feed resource, the pomaces from apple, carrot, grape, and citrus were fermented under solid-state conditions in the presence of 60% soybean meal with 40% of each fruit pomace at 60% of moisture content. Lactobacillus plantarum SK3873, Lactobacillus plantarum SK3893, Weissella cibaria SK3880, and Bacillus subtilis SK3889 were isolated from the fermented fruit pomace by inoculation of horse feces. For the growth of Bacillus subtilis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Lactobacillus plantarum, they were inoculated in 3-step order at 0, 12, and 24 h, respectively. The fruit pomace was fermented for 48 h at $35^{\circ}C$. The pH of the apple, carrot, grape, citrus and all mixed pomaces decreased from 5.45~6.25 to 4.40~4.77. Microbial growth was maintained at $10^8{\sim}10^9cfu/g$. After 12 and 24 h incubation, dry matter of carrot pomace were highest at 54.84 and 56.66%, respectively (P<0.05) and that of grape pomace was lower than others during fermentation (P<0.05). Dry matter was generally reduced by about 20%. NDF decreased gradually or maintained after 24 h, indicating the fiber degradation. Ash content tended to decrease during fermentation. After 48 hours fermentation, Bacillus, yeast and Lactobacillus showed an excellent growth by using juice by-products. These results suggest that fermented juice pomace has a potential as horse feedstuff with probiotics to maintain beneficial microflora in horse gut.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.416-425
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• 2001

Background : The incidence of drug-resistant tuberculosis has recently decreased in Korea. However, it is still one of the major obstacles in treating pulmonary tuberculosis. This study was performed to determine the prevalence and clinical characteristics associated with drug-resistance in pulmonary tuberculosis at the tertiary referral hospital in Pusan, Korea. Methods : The medical records of 138 patients, who had been diagnosed as active pulmonary tuberculosis were retrospectively reviewed, and results of drug susceptibility from May 1997 to June 2000. The relationships among those with a history of previous tuberculosis treatment, the extent of lung involvement, the presence of cavities on the initial chest X-ray films and patterns of drug resistance were analyzed. Results : The total number of patients who had drug resistance to at least one drug was 55(39.9%). Among them 34(24.6%) had resistance to isoniazid(INH) and rifampin(RFP). There was drug resistance in 20(22%) of 91 patients without previous tuberculosis therapy, and among them 9(9.9%) were multi-drug resistant. Thirty-two(74.5%) out of 47 patients with previous therapy were drug-resistant and 25(53.2%) were multidrug resistant. For all 138 patients, resistance to INH was the most common(34.1%), followed by RFP(26.1%) and ethambutol(EMB)(14.5%). Drug resistance to INH, RFP, PZA and streptomycin(SM) were independently associated with a history of previous treatment(odds ratio; 9.43, 9.09, 8.93 and 21.6 respectively, p<0.01). The extent of lung involvement on the chest films was significantly associated with the drug resistance to INH and RFP(odds ratio; 2.12 and 2.40 respectively, p<0.01). The prevalence of drug resistance to RFP, INH and RFP was significantly more common in patients with a cavitary lesion on the chest films by multivariate analysis(odds ratio; 4.17 and 4.81 respectively, p<0.05). Conclusion : This study revealed that patients with a prior treatment history for pulmonary tuberculosis, and the presence of a cavitary lesion on chest films had a higher prevalence of anti-tuberculosis drug resistance. A very careful clinical and microbiological examination is needed for patients with such characteristics.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.437-449
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• 2001

Background : In the severe community-acquired pneumonia, it has been known that the immune status is occasionally suppressed. This study was performed to identify the immunologic markers related with the prognostic factors in severe community-acquired pneumonia. Methods : 23 patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia were involved in this study, and divided into survivor (16) and nonsurvivor (7) groups. In this study, the medical history, laboratory tests(complete blood counts, routine chemistry profile, immunoglobulins, complements, lymphocyte subsets, cytokines, sputum and blood culture, urine analysis), and chest radiographs were scrutinized. Results : 1) Both groups had lymphopenia(total lymphocyte count $995.6{\pm}505.7/mm^3$ in the survivor and $624.0{\pm}287.6/mm^3$ in the nonsurvivor group). 2) The T-lymphocyte count of the nonsurvivor group($295.9{\pm}203.0/mm^3$) was lower than the survivor group($723.6{\pm}406.5/mm^3$) (p<0.05). 3) The total serum protein(albumin) was $6.0{\pm}1.0(2.7{\pm}0.7)\;g/d{\ell}$ in the survivor and $5.2{\pm}1.5(2.3{\pm}0.8)g/d{\ell}$ in the nonsurvivor group. The BUN of the nonsurvivor group($41.7{\pm}30.0mg/d{\ell}$) was higher than that of the survivor group($18.9{\pm}9.8mg/d{\ell}$)(p<0.05). The creatinine concentration was higher in the nonsurvivor group($1.8{\pm}1.0mg/d{\ell}$) than that in the survivor group($1.0{\pm}0.3mg/d{\ell}$)(p<0.05). 4) The immunoglobulin G level was higher in the survivor group($1433.0{\pm}729.5mg/d{\ell}$) than in the nonsurvivor group($849.1{\pm}373.1mg/d{\ell}$) (p<0.05). 5) The complement $C_3$ level was $108.0{\pm}37.9mg/d{\ell}$ in the survivor group and $88.0{\pm}32.1mg/d{\ell}$ in the nonsurvivor group. 6) A cytokine study showed an insignificant difference in both groups. 7) Chronic liver disease, DM, and COPD were major underlying diseases in both groups. Conclusion : These results suggest that decreased a T-lymphocyte count and immunoglobulin G level, and an increased BUN and creatinine level may be associated with the poor prognosis of severe community-acquired pneumonia.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.128-139
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• 1998

Background: It is well known that various cytokines and growth factors secreted mainly from alveolar macrophages do the key role in the pathogenesis of IPF. But recently it has been known that structural cells like fibroblast can also release cytokines. So the phenotypic changes in fibroblasts of IPF may do a role in continuous progression of fibrosis. The aim of this study is to find out whether there is a change in the biologic properties of the lung fibroblasts of IPF. Subjects and Method: The study was done on 13 patients with IPF diagnosed by open or thoracoscopic lung biopsy and 7 control patients who underwent resectional surgery for lung cancer. Lung fibroblast cell lines (FB) were established by explant culture technique from the biopsy or resected specimen Result: Basal proliferation of the fibroblast of IPF(IFB) measured by BrdU uptake tended to be highter than control fibroblast(NFB) (0.212 0.107 vs $0.319{\pm}0.143$, p=0.0922), also there was no significant difference in proliferation after the stimulation with PDGF or 10% serum. On the contrary, the degree of inhibition in proliferation by PGE2 was significantly lower($33.0{\pm}13.1%$) in IFB than control($46.7{\pm}10.0%$, p=0.0429). The IFB secreted significantly higher amount of MCP-l($l574{\pm}1283$ pg/ml) spontaneously than NFB($243{\pm}100$ pg/ml) and also after the stimulation with TGF-$\beta$($3.23{\pm}1.31$ ng/ml vs $0.552{\pm}0.236$ ng/ml, p=0.0012). Similarly IL-8 and IL-6 seretion of IFB was significantly higher than NFB at basal state and with TGF-$beta$ stimulation. But after the maximal stimulation with IL-1,8, no significant difference in cytokine secretion was found between IFB and NFB. Conclusion : Above data suggest that the fibroblasts of IPF were phenotypically changed and these change may do a role in the pathogenesis of IPF.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.945-953
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• 1996

Background : Many acute and chronic lung diseases including pneumoconiosis are characterized by the presence of increased numbers of activated macrophages. These macrophages generate several inflammatory cell chemoattractants, by which neutrophil migrate from vascular compartment to the alveolar space. Recruited neutrophils secrete toxic oxygen radicals or proteolytic enzymes and induce inflammatory response. Continuing inflammatory response results in alteration of the pulmonary structure and irreversible fibrosis. Recently, a polypeptide with specific neutrophil chemotactic activity, interleukin-8(IL-8), has been cloned and isolated from a number of cells including : monocytes, macrophages and fibroblasts. IL-1 and/or TNF-${\alpha}$ preceded for the synthesis of IL-8, and we already observed high level of IL-1 and TNF-${\alpha}$ in the pneumoconioses. So we hypothesized that IL-8 may be a central role in the pathogenesis of pneumoconiosis. In order to evaluate the clinical utility of IL-8 as a biomarker in the early diagnosis of pneumoconiosis, we investigated the increase of IL-8 in the pneumoconiotic patient and the correlation between IL-8 level and progression of pneumoconiosis. Method : We measured IL-8 in the serum of 48 patients with pneumoconiosis and 16 persons without dust exposure history as a control group. Pneumoconiotic cases were divided into 3 groups according to ILO Classification : suspicious group(n=16), small opacity group(n=16) and large opacity group(n=16). IL-8 was measured by a sandwich enzytne immunoassay technique. All data were expressed as the $mean{\pm}standard$ deviation. Results: 1) The mean value of age was higher in the small opacity and large opacity group than comparison group, but smoking history was even. Duration of dust exposure was not different among 3 pneumoconiosis groups. 2) IL-8 level was $70.50{\pm}53.63pg/m{\ell}$ in the suspicious group, $107.50{\pm}45.88pg/m{\ell}$ in the small opacity group, $132.50{\pm}73.47pg/m{\ell}$ in the large opacity group and $17.85{\pm}33.85pg/m{\ell}$ in the comparison group. IL-8 concentration in all pneumoconiosis group was significant higher than that in the comparison group(p<0.001). 3) IL-8 level tended to increase with the progression of pneumoconiosis. Multiple comparison test using Anova/Scheffe analysis showed a significant difference between suspicious group and large opacity group(p<0.05). 4) The level of IL-8 was correlated with the progression of pneumoconiosis(r=0.4199, p<0.05). Conclusion : IL-8 is thought to be a good biomarker for the early diagnosis of pneumoconiosis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.954-964
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• 1996

Background : The type of the infiltrating cells in al veolitis may be determined by the chemokines in the lesion. MIP-1 ${\alpha}$, a C-C type chemokine, stimulates proliferation and cytokine secretion from macrophages and induces early neutrophilic and later monocytic inflammation in vi vo. IL-8, a C-X-C type chemokine is known to attract neutrophils and T-lymphocytes. This study is performed to find out the relative role of two different chemokines in diffuse interstitial lung disease. Subject and Method : We measured the secretion of MIP- 1 ${\alpha}$ and IL-8 from alveolar macrophages(AM), and their level in BAL fluid of 26 patients with DILD (10 IPF, 4 collagen disease, 10 sarcoidosis, and 2 hypersensitivity pneumonitis) and 7 normal control. Result: IL-8 secretion was significantly increased in patients with DILD ($8.15{\pm}4.58$ ng/ml) than in normal ($1.10{\pm}0.93$ ng/ml, p=0.0003). Significant correlation was found between IL-8 secretion and total cell number in BAL fluid (r=0.484, p=0.0068), %(r=0.592, p=0.0004) and No. (r=0.516, p=0.0042) of lymphocyte, and % of AM (r=-0.505, 0.0032). MIP- 1 ${\alpha}$ secretion was also increased in DILD ($2.41{\pm}1.45$ ng/ml) compared to control ($0.63{\pm}0.30$ ng/ml, p=0.0031), and showed a tendency of correlation with total cell number (r=0.368, p=0.0456) and No. of alveolar macrophages (r=0.356, p=0.0579) in BAL fluid. The concentration of IL-8 in BAL fluid was significantly increased in the patients with DILD ($40.4{\pm}34.5$ pg/ml) compared to control ($3.90{\pm}2.47$ pg/ml, p=0.0094) and it showed a significant correlation with the total cell number (r=0.484, p=0.0068), %(r=-0.505, p=0.0032) of AM, and % (r=0.592, p=0.0004) and No. (r=0.516, p=0.0042) of lymphocyte in BAL fluid. But there was a no significant difference in MIP- 1 ${\alpha}$ concentration in BAL fluid between normal control group and the patients with DILD. Conclusion : From the above results, we concluded that AM of DILD releases increased amount of both IL-8 and MIP- 1 ${\alpha}$ but IL-8 has better correlation with the type of alveolitis.